KINGSVILLE, Texas (Softball) – With just over half of the season complete, Texas A&M University-Kingsville (14-13, 6-8 LSC) will have an important week of softball games that will play a role in their postseason aspirations. The week will start with a twin bill against #8 St. Mary's University (20-6, 2-1 Heartland Conference) slated to begin Tuesday, March 21 at 4 p.m. in StMU Softball Stadium and conclude with a three-game Lone Star Conference series at Vernie and Blanche Hubert Field against Texas A&M University-Commerce (20-8, 8-4 LSC) starting on Friday, March 24 at 6 p.m.
After starting the series strong with a 9-3 victory, The Hogs are coming off of a series loss to Tarleton State two games to one. Despite being winners in two of their last nine games, the Hogs are 5-4 at home this season.Â
Victoria Schoonard-Saborio is the teams leading hitter with a .395 batting average and has logged ten multiple hit games this year. Schoonard-Saborio has scored 34 runs, belted five home runs and is second on the team with 16 RBIs behind Rachael Longoria (.330) who has 18. Longoria has went yard on four different occasions and has a team-best 22 runs scored. Both Schoonard-Saborio and Longoria are currently on a five-game hitting streak. Haley Boyett is batting .357 and has 30 hits, 11 runs batted in and team-highs of two triples and four stolen pads. Boyett has accumulated seven multiple hit games this season and although not active, she has the teams longest reached base streak (15 games) and hitting streak (13 games) this season.Â
Inside of the circle, The Javelinas are led by Breanna Smith (7-5, 3.61 ERA) who has tossed six complete games, two shutouts and fanned 72 batters (tied four fourth in the league) in 75.2 innings pitched. Others in the Javelinas rotation consists of Randa Hatter (3-4, 4.07 ERA), Carlie Clark (1-3, 4.28 ERA) and Sarah Gilbert (3-1, 4.91 ERA).
ABOUT THE RATTLERS
St. Mary's is currently on a two-game winning streak and has a perfect 6-0 record on their home turf this year. The Rattlers are the reigning Heartland Conference Champions and have owned the title for seven consecutive seasons. As a team, StMU bats .295 and are led by Raynelle Nash who has a .398 batting average, 33 hits, and adds one home run to her season stats. Nash ties three other teammates with 14 RBIs. The pitching is the strength for this year's Rattlers team with the bullpen averaging a 2.58 ERA. St. Mary's ace, Jorden Russell, is 9-2 inside the circle in 2017 and has a 2.15 ERA. Russell has thrown eight complete games, three shutouts and has tallied 60 putouts with 29 walks in 75 innings. Opposing batters have a .198 average against the sophomore and she has a conference-low of one home run allowed.
The Javelinas have dropped six of the last seven games against the Rattlers. TAMUK's last win versus StMU was on April 1, 2014 when the Javs won 9-4 in San Antonio, Texas. The Snakes owns the all-time series record 65-23.
ABOUT THE LIONS
A&M-Commerce has won eight straight games and boasts a 7-2 record as the visiting team this season. The Lions have swept their last two conference series against Midwestern State and UT Permian Basin, while slipping in a doubleheader sweep over St. Edward's between the conference bouts. TAMUC will keep it in the system family this week as they square off against Texas A&M International on Tuesday at home before making the trip to Kingsville. Baylea Higgs is making a strong case of LSC player of the year as she leads the club with a .476 batting average, 39 hits, 27 runs scored and tacks on 17 RBIs. Higgs paces the entire league with four triples and 31 stolen bases on 31 attempts. On the rubber, Selena Rima has a 1.28 ERA in 54.2 innings pitched to go along with her 6-1 record. Rima leads the conference with five saves and has 22 strikeouts and just ten earned runs this season.
Last season the Lions got the best of the Hogs in all four games and leads the young all-time series 5-1 with 2015 being the inaugural year for A&M-Commerce Softball.Â
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